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Friday 22 January 2016

Travelling home via Laguna del la Veguilla in Castilla La Mancha.

A dip on two Ruddy Shelducks but a good number of Year Ticks.

We left Segovia quite early and made a stop for some breakfast just to the south of Madrid and then stopped at a large wetland called Laguna del la Veguilla on the way south. I parked and scanned the pool and reedbeds and soon added Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), White-headed Duck (Malvasia Cabeciblanca / Oxyura leucocephala), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Greater Flamingo (Flamenco Común / Phoenicopterus roseus) out on the water and in the reeds a couple of Penduline Tits (Pájaro Moscón / Remiz pendulinus), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus) and Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and in the air lots of Marsh Harriers (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) including several impressive male birds.
We moved around to the opposite side of the lake where I checked the water infront of three hides and again picked up quite a few new species including Western Swamp-hen (Calamon Común / Porphyrio porphyrio), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Red-crested Pochard (Pato Colorado / Netta rufina), Little (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Black-necked Grebes (Zampullín Cullinegro / Podiceps nigricollis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Crested Lark (Cogujada / Galerida cristata), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Corn Bunting (Triguero / Emberiza calandra).
We left the wetland and headed back to the motorway, on the way we had Bramblings (Pinzón Real / Fringilla montifringilla) sitting in a road side tree and a female Goshawk (Azor Común / Accipitor gentillis) which flew over the road in front of us.
We continued on home and as we entered Andalusia the sun came out and things warmed up nice and quickly.

Thursday 21 January 2016

Basilica de la Santa Cruz del the Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen) and the Monasterio de El Escorial, Madrid.

A morning of mixed feelings and an afternoon in a more beautiful place.

Basilica de la Santa Cruz del the Valle de los Caidos.
Jayne and I went across country and through the hills to our first stop of the day at the Valle de los Caidos, a rather controversial but spectacular monument near San Lorenzo de el Escorial. I am not going to say much more about this place but more information about this site can be found here.   
Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus).
The area around this monument is wooded and very pleasant and during our walk round I saw Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).
Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).
Next came lunch which we had in El Escorial before spending nearly 3 hours going around the stunning Monasterio de El Escorial where we took the audio tour. Later we went back to Segovia and had our meal in the town.
Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

Wednesday 20 January 2016

Santo Domingo de Silos to Segovia, Castilla y leon.

Moving on to our last stop.

Castillo de Pedraza.
After a leasurly start and a nice breakfast Jayne and I said goodbye to Santi and Howard and thanked them for a cracking few days stay before hit the road south heading for our next hotel in Segovia. 
Iglesia San Juan Bautista.
Following Santi's advise we called in at Pedraza a stunning hill top village with wall, beautiful building and a castle which was unfortunatly closed. 
View from Pedraza.
We walked around for quite a while before moving on down the road for some lunch before continuing to the hotel in Segovia. 
Pedraza.
During the drive I saw several species including Black / Cinereous (Buitre Negro / Aegypius monachus) and Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), White Stork (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).
Pedraza.
Once we had parked and checked in we went straight out and wandered around the town, later we had a meal before heading back to the hotel for the night.
Pedraza.
Pedraza.
Catedral de Segovia.
Catedral de Segovia.
Catedral de Segovia.
Alcázar de Segovia.
Acueducto de Segovia.
Acueducto de Segovia.
Acueducto de Segovia.

Tuesday 19 January 2016

Silos, Covarrubias, Yecla near Silos, Casilla y Leon.

Birding in Santi's garden, Covarrubias, Silos, Monasterio de Silos and the Gregorian Chants later.

The Churchyard gate.
We got up and I did a bit of birding from the lounge of Santi's house and on the grass and in a leafless Fig tree I picked up Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros), Cirl (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus) and Rock Buntings (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia), Sardinian (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala) and Dartford Warblers (Curruca Rabilarga / Sylvia undata), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus) and Tree Sparrows (Gorrión Molinero / Passer montanus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).
Santi, Jayne and Howard in Covarrubias.
After breakfast we got in to Howards car and we went to a nearby village called Covarrubias where we parked and had a walk around this very smart town with some very nice old building and river side walks. 
Around Covarrubias.
On the way we saw Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone). 
Around Covarrubias.
Down by the river I saw Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) and mixed in with the flock of Siskins was a much greyer looking bird but just as I got my bins on to it they flew to a more distant tree and by the time I got there had gone altogether, so my first instinct that this bird was a Lesser Redpoll (Pardillo Sizerín / Carduelis flammea) could not be proven.
Around Covarrubias.
After a very pleasant walk around the town and a coffee in a bar we headed back to the house but turned just before the village and went a short way to the gorge of La Yecla. 
Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus) in La Yecla.
Once we were parked we walked along the suspended walkway which was pinned to the cliffs, in some places it was very tight but a superb walk and whilst we were there we saw lots of Griffon Vultures and a flyby Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).
Santi, Howard and Jayne in La Yecla.
We then had lunch and then Santi and I went for a walk along a nearby river but the birds were quite but we did have superb views of a Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus) before we headed back to the house to collect Jayne before we went down to the monastery to have a look around the fantastic cloisters. 
Jayne and Howard infront of the monastery in Silos.
It was an amazing building and Santi's knowledge made it far more interesting. Later we walked up to the large cross on the far side valley and had super views over the town back towards the house.
A view over Silos.
We walked back to the house again and had five minute before going back down to the Monastrey for the evenings Gregorian Chants which were amazing. 
Silos.
Later we called in at one of the villages bars and had a beer before our evening meal back at Santi's.
Old wash house in Silos.
Around the Monastrey in Silos.
Around the Monastrey in Silos.
A view of the Monastrey in Silos.
A view of the Monastrey in Silos.
Virgen de la peña above Silos.

Monday 18 January 2016

Burgos and Santo Domingo de Silos, Castillo Y Leon.

A morning around the sights in Burgos and then a run out into the countyside.

A view over the city of Burgos.
After breakfast we all jumped in to Santi's car and headed in to the city for a walk around the sights, during this time we visited the Castle which over looks the town, Cathedral and several other interesting buildlings. 
Howard, Santi, Jayne and a Friend in Burgos.
Whilst we were up around the Castle we saw Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos) and several White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia) on or returning to rooftop nests. 
A stunning area of Burgos city.
The Cathedral was stunning and we hope to return to the city in the future to repeat the visit there, we also went in to another church which I can not remember the name of but it had many beautiful features.
Howard and Santi near the Cathedral.
After the time in the city we headed back to Santi's and had some lunch before heading South to Santo Domingo de Silos to Santi's country house where we were going to stay for a couple nights on the way we called and had coffee at Lerma in the Palicio Ducal. 
Inside the Cathedral.
On the drive down I saw Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Merlin (Esmerejón / Falco columbarius), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus). 
Inside the Cathedral.
Once we were at Santi's we did the tour and then settled in before we had a short stroll around the town and finished with a very nice meal back at the house.
Parador de Lerma.
Parador de Lerma.

Mirador de Los Arcos.
Plaza de Santa Clara Arches.

Sunday 17 January 2016

Xixón (Gijón) to Burgos via Leon, Northern Spain.

A change of location for a meeting with friends.

Mountains on the way to Leon.
Jayne and I got the luggage ready and loaded the car for a drive down to Burgos where we were going to met Santi and Howards, two friends. Howard was up from Huétor to visit Santi and it tied in nicely for us all to get together so that Santi could show us where he lived and grew up. 
In Burgos.
The drive was nice and easy as it was motorway pretty much all the way and except for a quick pull off in the mountains amongst the snow and at Leon to dip on Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus) we did not stop. 
Afternoon in Burgos.
During the two brief stops and whilst driving I did see Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Woodlark (Totovia / Lullula arborea), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Dipper (Mirlo Acuático / Cinclus cinclus), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Spotless Starling (Estornino Negro / Sturnus unicolor) but as for Rooks I saw just a single Rookery but no birds.  
Another couple in Burgos.
We arrived in Burgos and met Santi and Howard near Santi's Apartment and after unloading we had some Lunch and a chat. Later we went for a walk around the city showing us some of the statues and building before we went and had an evening meal in one of the bars.
An evening in Burgos.